by Jess Allison
She started to step out of the chamber, down onto the grass, but Captain Y’Nota gently caught her arm. “Careful,” he said. “It’s easy to leave the Chamber, but quite complicated to return.”
Ja’Nil thought of the travel gate by which she and Ee’Rick had entered the Queen’s Audience Chamber. Was it only two days ago?
“How do they do that?” she asked Y’Nota.
“You’ll have to ask the scientists.”
“Scientists?”
“People who claim Gifts are not given from the Lord, but are simply different talents for the manipulation of matter. They say anyone can be taught.” He shrugged, “It’s beyond me.”
Maybe Ee’Rick knows, she thought, and looked around for him. Not far away, he was leaning against one of the pillars, arms crossed over his chest, his hands tucked in his armpits, legs crossed at the ankles. He was watching her and Captain Y’Nota with a brooding expression.
To Ja’Nil, Ee’Rick looked both dignified and handsome. He was obviously at home in such a group. She was proud of him, while at the same time conscious of what little consequence she was to him.
He probably thinks of me as some kind of pet.
As she watched, one of the gorgeously dressed nobles approached Ee’Rick. They spoke for several minutes, both looking very intense. It seemed to her that the noble treated Ee’Rick with great civility, even deference.
There was the mellow sound of a gong and seven people, three women and four men, entered the chamber. They were of all the different races, but all were dressed alike in long slivery-white tunics over black leggings. Around their necks, they wore red and gold ribbons. At the end of the ribbons, each person wore a unique jeweled pendent. Their ages ranged from an ancient old man of the Sky People with rheumy blue eyes and wrinkled grayish black skin, his hair red and straight, but dull with age, to a short, vigorous woman of the Earth People like Ja’Nil, with a piercing gaze and the carriage of the soldier. They seated themselves at the council table, leaving vacant the high-backed chair in the middle.
The sound of flutes and the soft shimmy of brushed drums heralded the entrance of Princess Lil’Li. Gone was the harried midnight visitor with her light sticks and sharp knives. This Princess Lil’Li was another personality altogether. Her glossy white hair was arranged high on her head in an intricate design. She wore artfully decorated, blue and silver robes that somehow managed to look both military and feminine.
The seven council members rose politely at her entrance. All talking in the room stopped and everyone turned to face the princess. She walked to the high backed chair and waited.
All the people bowed their heads. Ja’Nil hastily followed suit.She watched the others out of the corner of her eyes. How long was she supposed to keep her head down?
The Princess must have given a signal, for people were straightening up. Some talk resumed, but for the most part everyone was watching the Council Table.
One of the clerks stepped forward. “All here present, do listen and ponder,” he said in a rather squeaky voice. “Before Her Royal Highness, Princess Lil’Li, Queen Presumptive of all Cancordia and this Council, lie two questions of great import.”
Then he turned and bowed to one of the councilors, a man of the Cloud People, who sat at the right hand of the princess. The man rose.
“The questions are two, yet also one,” he said and looked at the assembled people. “First, Lord Raptor, of Raptor Keep, advisor to the late Queen, lead chair of the Cancoridian Military Council and head of an ancient and distinguished noble family is accused of treason.”
There was a moment of shocked silence, and then everyone began to talk at once.
“He’s a noble, for the Lord’s sake,” Ja’Nil heard over and over again.
“They’ll never prove it,” said others.
“Whose crazy idea is this?” asked still others.
A few looked grimly pleased. Others looked frightened.
Again, there was the sound of the gong and people fell silent. The same councilor spoke again.
“Lord Raptor’s accuser is Her Royal Highness, Princess Lil’Li, Queen Presumptive of all Cancordia.”
Gasps. A few heads nodded, there were some shocked, “nos,” deepening fear in others, there was also grim satisfaction.
Ja’Nil listened carefully to those around her. Unless the princess has real proof, she thought, these people will never convict one of their own.
“What’s the second question to be decided?” called out a noblewoman.
Everyone quieted down to hear the answer. The councilman cast an uneasy glance at Princess Lil’Li who stared coolly ahead.
“The second question to be decided on this day,” he said, “is whether or not Lord Raptor should be appointed Regent of the Realm until Her Royal Highness has reached her eighteenth birthday two years from now?”
Dead silence.
“We will proceed,” squeaked the clerk. “Summon Lord Raptor.”
The crowd in the front of the room began backing up, leaving a large open space before the council table. There was the mournful sound of a flute and then Lord Raptor seemed to rise from the very ground. First, his head and shoulders were visible then his torso, then all of him stood proudly before the council table. A thin ribbon of light encircling him was the only indication of his status. To Ja’Nil, the ribbon of light looked almost like an enhancement rather than an indictment.
She had to admit, he cut an impressive figure. Although on the short side for a Cloud Person, he held himself so erect that his stocky body seemed to tower over the Council Table. His green skin was darker than usual, probably from rage, thought Ja’Nil. Others apparently agreed, because quite a number stepped back to give Lord Raptor even more room.
He was dressed in a fine red and gold tunic over red leggings. He wore high glossy boots and his family crest was prominently displayed. His white hair gleamed with health and stood up fiercely in a two-inch swath in the middle of his head from his forehead to the back of his neck. The rest of his head had been freshly shaved. The jeweled belt around his trim waist held a large ceremonial knife. His expression was both fierce and disdainful. No cringing prisoner he, but a man who considered himself in control.
“Lord Raptor,” squeaked the clerk, “how do you answer to the charge of treason laid before this council?”
Lord Raptor waved the charge away with a brusque gesture of his hand. “Before that nonsense is discharged,” he said, in a deep authoritative voice that carried easily throughout the room, “I will address the question of Regency for Cancordia.”
The Councilman who sat at the right hand of Princess Lil’Li cleared his throat and half stood. “The Council would prefer to deal with the treason charge first,” he said.
Lord Raptor ignored him. “I ask the Council,” he said, then turned to face the crowded room, “I ask all here, do you really want a young, innocent, and ignorant girl to lead our country?”
Princess Lil’Li’s expression turned even colder, but she did not speak. Lord Raptor continued. He seemed perfectly rational. There was no sign of the half-crazed man who had insisted Ja’Nil fly around the room.
“Under Cancordian law, even if they have undergone their Adult Ritual, no one under the age of eighteen years may rule Cancorida alone. I propose myself as Regent until our Princess has reached her majority and presumably some sense.” He gave a small smile. “We all know our beloved Princess Lil’Li. We are all aware of her impulsiveness, her lack of interest in the daily tasks of government. And this is as it should be; after all, she is still a child. But just imagine the state of our country after only a short time under her schoolgirl attempts to lead. Worse, imagine how foreign governments will take advantage of her and encroach upon our borders, then our villages, until they reach the very gates of Cordia itself.” He paused to let his words sink in.
“Indeed,” he continued, “it has already begun. Already, our young and inexperienced princess has embraced and freed two dangerous
spies.” He turned with a fine dramatic flair and pointed at Ja’Nil.
Ja’Nil looked at him in amazement. There were some snickers around her. Apparently, her ragbag appearance did not fit in with anyone’s idea of a dangerous foreign agent.
“And her partner,” he added hastily, stabbing his finger in Ee’Rick‘s direction. No one snickered this time. As for Ee’Rick, he didn’t even bother straightening away from the pillar.
“A classic defense of the devious and guilty,” said Ee’Rick calmly. “Divert attention away from your own crimes by accusing others.”
Behind Lord Raptor, Princess Lil’Li, in a cool, precise voice said, “And are you accusing me of treason, Lord Raptor?”
Lord Raptor turned and bowed low. “Of course not, your Royal Highness, merely of gullibility. I grant you, they are a sympathetic pair; one, a poor little Fisherfolk girl, the other an exotic, handsome young man. Handsome enough to turn a teenage girl’s head.”
Princess Lil’Li blushed dark green.
“Plus, I have proof these two are spies for the Warlord No’Sila.”
“No’Sila!” There was a murmur throughout the room. The council members sat him stone faced. Lord Raptor turned to the crowd.
“That’s right, No’Sila! My sources tell me that at this very moment he is readying to attack Cordia.
Again, the sound of a gong was heard. Ja’Nil looked around, but could not see where it came from. The crowd immediately silenced.
“Your sources?” asked one of the councilmen.
Lord Raptor gestured and O’Keeven stepped out of the crowd.
Oh, for crying out loud! Ja’Nil rolled her eyes.
“I employ this man to keep an eye on No’Sila. Repeat what you told me,” he ordered O’Keeven.
“Ah…well.”
Ja’Nil straightened. Here come more lies.
“You want me to tell everything?” O’Keeven asked.
“Everything.”
Ja’Nil watched O’Keeven take the measure of the people in the chamber; this was his audience. He actually swelled with professional pride. The curséd man was enjoying himself.
“No’Sila,” O’Keeven began, “is a cagey type, no mistaking it. He sent those two to lure away the main portion of your militia with false tales of flooding and civil unrest in the east. It worked, too,” he said and nodded sagely to himself. “We’ve barely enough soldiers left to patrol the walls.”
“And why did he do this?” prompted Lord Raptor.
“He’s waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For that girl there and her cohort to return with the information he needs to attack,” said O’Keeven. “He’s gathering an army at his keep. I’ve seen it. No’Sila’s just waiting for their signal.”
Ee’Rick snorted and said, “Lord No’Sila is a petty warlord with no more than a hundred mounted soldiers. They could no more take Cordia than they could fly to the three moons. Cordia could hold them off for years with just the people in this room.”
Lord Raptor smiled. “And how do you know that, spy?”
There was an uneasy murmur from around the room. Again, it was cut off by the sound of the unseen gong. In the silence, Princess Lil’Li stood up to address the crowd, which immediately fell silent.
“My people,” she said. “I shall address the two charges put before this council. The charges that Lord Raptor has managed to twist and transform into an attack on both myself and these two visitors to our capital.” Somehow, standing in front of the high backed chair, her voice was magnified so that it reached all corners of the room.
“I am aware that I am untested and young, do we not all start out that way? I realize I will need wise council, as any Ruler does, to navigate the tempests of government. Finally, I am aware that I have less than eighteen years and that Cancordia is legally in need of a Regent, or Regents until I reach my majority.” She took a deep breath.
“But Lord Raptor? Is Cancordia to be at the mercy of a traitor who gives false reports to his Queen? To be at the mercy of a traitor who dispatches the militia on a wild gundi chase so he can move in his own private army.” Her voice had risen; her fists were clenched. “To be at the mercy of a traitor who murdered his Queen?”
Now everybody was talking at once. The volume rose as each tried to make himself heard. The Council members sat frozen as if struck by glacier light.
The sound of the gong was heard at the same time as Lord Raptor bellowed, “Silence!” Whether responding to the gong or Lord Raptor, people stopped talking. Princess Lil’Li was still standing, but Lord Raptor took possession of the limelight.
He began by applauding the Princess with slow deliberation. Then he bowed low and mockingly to her. Finally, he turned to the crowd.
“Once again, we are presented with the Princess’s hysterical, impulsive and I regret to say, dishonest behavior that we are all familiar with. The child will say anything to get her way. Wild accusations are simply… wild accusations. Where is her proof? There is none, of course, because none of this is true. Imagine being ruled by a Queen who does not hesitate to accuse me, one of Cancordia’s leading nobles, of treason. Who among you will be safe?”
There was an agreeing mumer among the crowd.
Lord Raptor listened to the crowds’ tone and nodded to himself. He was on a roll and he knew it.
Why doesn’t the Princess offer some proof, thought Ja’Nil?
The councilman on Princess Lil’Li’s right stood up and spoke in a cold, angry voice to Lord Raptor. “You imprisoned Her Royal Higness, Princess Lil’Li, the Queen Presumptive; an act of treason.”
“Did I? Who says so? The Princess? Anyone else? Why not ask her companion, Lady Bel’Dor? And if the princess was imprisoned, how did she manage to issue orders to Capt. Y’Nota? How in fact, did she get here? Where are her chains, her guards? Please tell us, your highness, how did you escape from your supposéd cell?”
The Princess glared at him as the skin on her cheekbones darkened with anger and embarrassment. He waited a moment for her to respond and when she said nothing, he continued. “I am accused of treason and murder. How am I to prove my innocence against these wild accusations? Anyone can accuse anyone of anything. What if I were to say Queen Ten’Aj died at the hands of (he looked deliberately at the princess) … well it could be anyone, couldn’t it?
Princess Lil’Li stood up. “You wish proof?” she asked.
“What I wish is to prove myself innocent,” he replied. “But one cannot prove a negative.”
To Ja’Nil’s amazement, Princess Lil’Li started to wring her hands. “If only Lady
Fayre--”
Lord Raptor cut her off. “I agree, if only Lady Fayre with her Thread of Truth were here,” he said to the whole room. “I would eagerly submit myself to her judgment and prove my innocence.”
So that’s why Lord Raptor crumbled Lady Fayre’s ring, Ja’Nil realized. He wasn’t looking for a message. He was looking for the wire that shaped the ring.
That big, ugly parch½ ring, casually handed over at the last minute, had been the whole point of Lady Fayre sending Ja’Nil to Cordia. For a moment she felt anger at the Lady for using her so callously.
What would have happened if I lied while wearing the ring?
But her anger was quickly replaced by worry. Is the wire still viable? It had gotten wet, something Lady Fayre had warned her against.
Hesitantly, Ja’Nil raised her hand. No one seemed to notice.
“Ahh,” said Ja’Nil. No one seemed to notice.
“Therefore,” continued Lord Raptor, “I propose --.”
“I have The Thread of Truth,” said Ja’Nil, in a very small voice. Again, most people did not seem to notice…but some did.
“What did you say?” asked a man standing near her.
“I have The Thread of Truth,” said Ja’Nil, still in a small voice. “Lady Fayre gave it to me to deliver to the Queen.” Her voice was growing stronger. All around her, people we
re quieting down to listen to what she was saying.
“Why would she do that?” someone asked.
“The Lady knew there was a traitor here in Cordia,” said Ja’Nil.
“And that’s why he killed my mother,” Princess Lil’Li cut in. “To prevent being exposed,” said Princess Lil’Li.
“Another liar,” said Lord Raptor, pointing to Ja’Nil. “She no more has The Thread of Truth than–“
“Then I can fly?” Ja’Nil asked. To her amazement, he actually looked frightened. Did he really believe she could fly!
The Earth Person Councilwoman stood up. “Show us,” she ordered Ja’Nil.
This could all blow up in her face. Still, it felt good not to be Raptor’s victim. It felt good to be the one doing the stalking.
Slowly, and rather dramatically, Ja’Nil uncoiled the wire from around her wrist. She unstrung the beads Ee’Rick had given her, and placed them carefully in her tunic pocket. Finally, she straightened out the wire and held it high above her head.
“The Thread of Truth,” she said in a voice that didn’t tremble at all.
“You bitch,” yelled Lord Raptor, and to everyone’s surprise, especially Ja’Nil’s, he drew his ceremonial knife and lunged at her.
Ja’Nil froze. Up close, the knife looked very strong and very sharp, and not the least bit ceremonial. It was aimed straight at her heart.
It missed.
It missed, because powerful jaws with large, sharp teeth closed around Lord Raptor’s forearm and snapped it like a twig. He screamed in pain and fell to the floor.
Instead of going into her heart, the knifepoint slashed the right side of Ja’Nil’s face. Her blood flowed freely down her face, dripping onto the floor.
All around her, people were screaming in fear, not of Lord Raptor, but of the giant wolf that had appeared out of nowhere, a wolf that had disarmed Lord Raptor, broke his arm, ripped his flesh, muscle and tendons, and now stood snarling over the downed man, saliva dripping from its blood smeared mouth.
Before anyone could recover and react, the wolf leaped through one of the openings between the pillars and disappeared. It took a while for people to realize the wolf was gone. Captain Y’Nota was the first to recover his wits.